Our political leaders claim there is no alternative to austerity cuts. Two academics, who are also activists, argue otherwise, providing examples of existing alternatives from the social economy and from the perspective of the alternative media.

Robin Murray is a co-founder of Twin Trading, a pioneer of the fair trade movement, and of the environmental partnership Ekologica.

Gavan Titley is a lecturer in media studies at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and a regular contributor to the Guardian.

Hilary Wainwright is a founding editor of Red Pepper and research director of the New Politics programme at the Transnational Institute (TNI).

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